The Coolmore Stud Stakes (formerly the Ascot Vale Stakes) is a Group 1 set weights event for three-year-olds held at Flemington racecourse in late October or early November each year during the Melbourne Spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres down the Flemington 'straight six' course and worth $500,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Coolmore Stud Stakes was won by Sepoy from Foxwedge with Satin Shoes third.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes came about when the 'Ascot Vale Stakes' race date was moved in 2006 from early in the spring to be held on Derby Day as part of the Flemington four-day Melbourne Cup carnival where the best horses are found. The race was afforded Group 1 status and in 2007 the race was re-named the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The new date and elite race status for the Coolmore Stud Stakes has changed the way some three-year-olds are now prepared for the premier three-year-old events of the Melbourne spring, with a number still tackling the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600m at Caulfield but then being freshened up for the shorter 1200m distance of the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
In the tradition of the Ascot Vale Stakes, the Coolmore Stud Stakes attracts quality three-year-old sprinters to make this race an exciting spectacle on Derby Day.
The honour role for this race has seen many of Australia's finest sprinters victorious, including Sepoy (2011), Weekend Hussler (2007), Gold Edition (2006), Our Maizcay (1995), Zeditave (1987), Rancher (1982), Manikato (1978), Surround (1976) and champion Vain (1969).
The winner and placegetters of the Coolmore Stud Stakes often go on to success in some of Australia's premier sprint races while those gallopers who finish behind the placegetters can also figure prominently is some of our better sprint races in the future.
Sepoy (2011) won the Gr2 Caulfield Sprint over 1100m at Caulfield before scoring in this event and recent Coolmore Stud Stakes winners include Star Witness (2010) and Headway (2009).
